(Nairobi) – Kenya has gained international recognition for its achievements in geospatial and environmental monitoring after the Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) was awarded two prestigious global honors. The awards, presented by STAR.VISION Aerospace Group Limited, include the Oriental Club VIP Award and the OSE Plaque Award, marking a milestone for both the institution and the country in the field of remote sensing.
The awards were presented at a ceremony held at the DRSRS headquarters in Nairobi, where Dr. Moses Akali, Director of DRSRS, accepted them on behalf of the agency. He described the recognition as not only a validation of Kenya’s past progress but also a call to deepen its investment in innovation and technology for sustainable development.
“These awards are not only a recognition of our past achievements; they are a challenge for us to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation in remote sensing and geospatial intelligence,” said Dr. Akali. “I thank STAR.VISION for their confidence in our team and reaffirm our commitment to developing practical, technology-driven solutions for sustainable development.”
The award ceremony coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DRSRS and the Flight Training Centre (FTC). The agreement is aimed at strengthening Kenya’s capacity to collect and analyze airborne geospatial data. The collaboration will focus on training, technical support, and expanding the use of aerial surveys for mapping and environmental monitoring.
Captain Gordon Wachira of FTC expressed his organization’s readiness to support the partnership fully. He emphasized the value of skilled pilots and precision in aerial mapping operations, stating, “We at FTC have heavily invested in training highly skilled pilots and technical personnel for aerial mapping and survey missions. We believe that the best safety measure is a well-trained pilot, and we are proud to bring that level of readiness and commitment to our collaboration with DRSRS.”
Titus Kiragu, a representative of STAR.VISION, said the awards recognize DRSRS’s leadership and Kenya’s growing readiness to adopt space-based solutions. “We are not just celebrating a partnership; we are acknowledging a results-driven and forward-looking institution. Kenya is now well-positioned to benefit from cutting-edge satellite solutions, including our Oriental Smart Eye (OSE) constellation and upcoming AI-powered platforms.”
Kiragu also announced ongoing discussions about a potential joint satellite project focused on monitoring wildlife and livestock habitats. In addition, he revealed plans to co-host a national multi-agency workshop dedicated to exploring new applications of remote sensing technologies.
Vincent Imala, the Principal Geo-Information Officer and Head of the Remote Sensing Division at DRSRS, closed the event by underscoring the broader significance of the day’s developments. “This is more than a celebration of awards. It is a reaffirmation of our shared vision with partners like STAR.VISION and FTC to harness geospatial technology for real-time, evidence-based decision-making.